SEOUL, July 23 (AJP) - A crocodile pulled from a stream in Yeoju has been identified as a critically endangered Siamese crocodile, adding to a series of crocodile discoveries in South Korea over the past two years and renewing scrutiny of the country's exotic pet trade.
Firefighters captured the 50-centimeter reptile from Soyang Stream on July 18 after a passerby reported what appeared to be a pet crocodile swimming in the water. Rescue crews netted the animal within about 30 minutes without injuries. Yeoju City later asked the National Institute of Biological Resources to identify the species using photographs and video taken after the capture.
The institute concluded that the reptile was a Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis), a freshwater species native to Southeast Asia that is listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the treaty's highest level of protection.
Once found across Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, Siamese crocodiles are now among the world's rarest crocodilian species after decades of habitat loss, hunting and hybridization. International commercial trade in wild-caught animals of the species is prohibited under CITES.
The crocodile is being housed at a temporary animal shelter operated on behalf of Yeoju City while officials search for its owner during the legally required 10-day public notice period. If no owner comes forward, the animal is expected to be transferred to the National Institute of Ecology in Seocheon, South Chungcheong Province, for long-term care.
The discovery follows several unusual crocodile incidents in South Korea in recent years. In February 2024, two dead juvenile crocodiles measuring about 30 centimeters each were found beside a trash pile near a shopping complex in Incheon.
The National Institute of Biological Resources said they were believed to be either Siamese crocodiles or saltwater crocodiles, both species protected under CITES. Six months later, a 60-centimeter crocodile carcass, believed to be either a New Guinea crocodile or a saltwater crocodile, was discovered on a roadside in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province.
Another reported sighting in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, in June 2023 prompted an extensive search after witnesses reported seeing what appeared to be a crocodile in a stream. Authorities found no animal or physical evidence confirming the sighting.
Police are investigating how the Yeoju crocodile ended up in the stream, including whether it escaped from private captivity or was deliberately abandoned. Under South Korean law, possession, trade or release of internationally protected wildlife without proper authorization may result in criminal penalties.
Experts say South Korea's climate makes it unlikely that crocodiles released into the wild could survive long enough to establish a breeding population. Even so, the repeated discoveries have raised concerns about the illegal trade and abandonment of exotic reptiles, as authorities continue investigating how protected species are entering the country.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.